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Computer Hardware Engineers

Research, design, develop, or test computer or computer-related equipment for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use. May supervise the manufacturing and installation of computer or computer-related equipment and components.
Related: Electrical & Electronic Engineering Technologists & Technicians  Electronics Engineers  Microsystems Engineers  Robotics Technicians  Software Developers 
Industries: Professional, Science, & Technical  Manufacturing 

  • Summary

  • Details

    • Work Activities

    • Provide technical support to designers, marketing and sales departments, suppliers, engineers and other team members throughout the product development and implementation process.
    • Provide training and support to system designers and users.
    • Write detailed functional specifications that document the hardware development process and support hardware introduction.
    • Recommend purchase of equipment to control dust, temperature, and humidity in area of system installation.
    • Build, test, and modify product prototypes, using working models or theoretical models constructed with computer simulation.
    • Update knowledge and skills to keep up with rapid advancements in computer technology.
    • Confer with engineering staff and consult specifications to evaluate interface between hardware and software and operational and performance requirements of overall system.
    • Design and develop computer hardware and support peripherals, including central processing units (CPUs), support logic, microprocessors, custom integrated circuits, and printers and disk drives.
    • Store, retrieve, and manipulate data for analysis of system capabilities and requirements.
    • Direct technicians, engineering designers or other technical support personnel as needed.
    • Analyze user needs and recommend appropriate hardware.
    • Monitor functioning of equipment and make necessary modifications to ensure system operates in conformance with specifications.
    • Provide training and support to system designers and users.
    • Evaluate factors such as reporting formats required, cost constraints, and need for security restrictions to determine hardware configuration.
    • Test and verify hardware and support peripherals to ensure that they meet specifications and requirements, by recording and analyzing test data.
    • Analyze user needs and recommend appropriate hardware.
    • Select hardware and material, assuring compliance with specifications and product requirements.
    • Build, test, and modify product prototypes, using working models or theoretical models constructed with computer simulation.
    • Provide training and support to system designers and users.
    • Specify power supply requirements and configuration, drawing on system performance expectations and design specifications.
    • Analyze information to determine, recommend, and plan layout, including type of computers and peripheral equipment modifications.
    • Assemble and modify existing pieces of equipment to meet special needs.

    Skills

    • Troubleshooting
      • Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
    • Quality Control Analysis
      • Testing how well a product or service works.
    • Management of Material Resources
      • Managing equipment and materials.
    • Management of Personnel Resources
      • Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
    • Reading Comprehension
      • Reading work-related information.
    • Speaking
      • Talking to others.
    • Learning Strategies
      • Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
    • Service Orientation
      • Looking for ways to help people.
    • Active Learning
      • Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
    • Operations Monitoring
      • Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
    • Systems Analysis
      • Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
    • Coordination
      • Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
    • Complex Problem Solving
      • Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
    • Instructing
      • Teaching people how to do something.
    • Social Perceptiveness
      • Understanding people's reactions.
    • Repairing
      • Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
    • Judgment and Decision Making
      • Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
    • Operations Analysis
      • Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
    • Active Listening
      • Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
    • Writing
      • Writing things for co-workers or customers.
    • Science
      • Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
    • Time Management
      • Managing your time and the time of other people.
    • Monitoring
      • Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
    • Management of Financial Resources
      • Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
    • Systems Evaluation
      • Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
    • Critical Thinking
      • Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
    • Technology Design
      • Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
    • Mathematics
      • Using math to solve problems.
    • Persuasion
      • Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
    • Installation
      • Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
    • Operation and Control
      • Using equipment or systems.
    • Equipment Selection
      • Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
    • Equipment Maintenance
      • Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
    • Negotiation
      • Bringing people together to solve differences.
    • Programming
      • Writing computer programs.

    Abilities

    • Oral Expression
      • Communicating by speaking.
    • Written Expression
      • Communicating by writing.
    • Memorization
      • Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
    • Deductive Reasoning
      • Using rules to solve problems.
    • Speed of Closure
      • Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
    • Category Flexibility
      • Grouping things in different ways.
    • Finger Dexterity
      • Putting together small parts with your fingers.
    • Wrist-Finger Speed
      • Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
    • Extent Flexibility
      • Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
    • Multilimb Coordination
      • Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
    • Trunk Strength
      • Using your lower back and stomach.
    • Stamina
      • Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
    • Night Vision
      • Seeing at night or under low light.
    • Number Facility
      • Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
    • Speed of Limb Movement
      • Quickly moving your arms and legs.
    • Gross Body Equilibrium
      • Keeping your balance or staying upright.
    • Far Vision
      • Seeing details that are far away.
    • Spatial Orientation
      • Knowing where things are around you.
    • Dynamic Flexibility
      • Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
    • Selective Attention
      • Paying attention to something without being distracted.
    • Rate Control
      • Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
    • Manual Dexterity
      • Holding or moving items with your hands.
    • Gross Body Coordination
      • Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
    • Visual Color Discrimination
      • Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
    • Information Ordering
      • Ordering or arranging things.
    • Problem Sensitivity
      • Noticing when problems happen.
    • Inductive Reasoning
      • Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
    • Flexibility of Closure
      • Seeing hidden patterns.
    • Mathematical Reasoning
      • Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
    • Visualization
      • Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
    • Auditory Attention
      • Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
    • Speech Clarity
      • Speaking clearly.
    • Hearing Sensitivity
      • Telling the difference between sounds.
    • Speech Recognition
      • Recognizing spoken words.
    • Control Precision
      • Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
    • Reaction Time
      • Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
    • Dynamic Strength
      • Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
    • Fluency of Ideas
      • Coming up with lots of ideas.
    • Originality
      • Creating new and original ideas.
    • Written Comprehension
      • Reading and understanding what is written.
    • Perceptual Speed
      • Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
    • Oral Comprehension
      • Listening and understanding what people say.
    • Arm-Hand Steadiness
      • Keeping your arm or hand steady.
    • Depth Perception
      • Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
    • Sound Localization
      • Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
    • Static Strength
      • Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
    • Explosive Strength
      • Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
    • Time Sharing
      • Doing two or more things at the same time.
    • Response Orientation
      • Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
    • Peripheral Vision
      • Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
    • Glare Sensitivity
      • Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
    • Near Vision
      • Seeing details up close.

    Knowledge

    • Mechanical
      • Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
    • Physics
      • Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
    • Mathematics
      • Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
    • Fine Arts
      • Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
    • Public Safety and Security
      • Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
    • Telecommunications
      • Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
    • Economics and Accounting
      • Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
    • Biology
      • Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
    • Chemistry
      • Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
    • Medicine and Dentistry
      • Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
    • Education and Training
      • Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
    • Law and Government
      • Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
    • Administration and Management
      • Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
    • Customer and Personal Service
      • Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
    • Computers and Electronics
      • Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
    • Production and Processing
      • Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
    • Administrative
      • Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
    • Engineering and Technology
      • Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
    • Sociology and Anthropology
      • Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
    • Foreign Language
      • Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
    • History and Archeology
      • Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
    • Philosophy and Theology
      • Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
    • Communications and Media
      • Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
    • Sales and Marketing
      • Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
    • Food Production
      • Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
    • Building and Construction
      • Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
    • Personnel and Human Resources
      • Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
    • Geography
      • Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
    • Psychology
      • Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
    • English Language
      • Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
    • Design
      • Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
    • Therapy and Counseling
      • Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
    • Transportation
      • Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.

    Education

    Education
    Bachelor's degree
    Work Experience
    No work experience
    Training
    No on-the-job training
    Education and Training Opportunities

    Pay

    Washington Annual Salary
    174070/yr
    Washington Hourly Wage
    83.69/hr

    Washington Employment Trends

    Currently Employed
    2,750
    Yearly Projected Openings
    250

    Personality

    Realistic: People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They do well at jobs that need:
    • Innovation
    • Adaptability
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Intellectual Curiosity
    • Attention to Detail
    • Dependability

    Tools

    • Brushless motor DC
    • Calibrated resistance measuring equipment
    • Capacitance meters
    • Circuit tester
    • Desktop computers
    • Digital testers
    • Electronic measuring probes
    • Feeler gauges
    • Frequency analyzers
    • Frequency calibrator or simulator
    • Frequency counters or timer or dividers
    • General purpose motor AC
    • Heated walk in environmental or growth chambers
    • Impedance meters
    • Integrated circuit testers
    • Isolators
    • Level generators
    • Magnifiers
    • Mainframe computers
    • Multimeters
    • Network analyzers
    • Notebook computers
    • Oscilloscopes
    • Personal computers
    • Personal digital assistant PDAs or organizers
    • Plotter printers
    • Power meters
    • Protocol analyzers
    • Scanners
    • Signal generators
    • Voltage or current meters
    • Wave generators

    Technology

    • Analytical or scientific software
    • Compiler and decompiler software
    • Computer aided design CAD software
    • Data base user interface and query software
    • Desktop communications software
    • Development environment software
    • File versioning software
    • Information retrieval or search software
    • Internet browser software
    • Object or component oriented development software
    • Office suite software
    • Operating system software
    • Pattern design software
    • Presentation software
    • Process mapping and design software
    • Program testing software
    • Project management software
    • Spreadsheet software
    • Word processing software

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

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